In England, Squirrrels, Red until the arrival of the American Grey in the 1870's, were popular pets from the middle ages until early in the 19th century. This unusual portrait is of the young John Worth of Worth with his pet squirrel. In order to keep a squirrel as a pet it was necessary to take one of the young from a nest and to domesticate it, hence they were more often pets for boys than girls. Painted in oils on paper, laid onto canvas, and within a fine grained wedge-form frame of the period.
A pasted paper label to reverse declaring this to be 'John Worth of Worth, born October 13th 1768'.
o.s:22.5 in x 27 in
image size:15.5 in x 20.25 in
John Worth married Jane Mary Lee, daughter and heir to Matthew Lee of Ebford in Sussex. They had three children, John, Francis and Ellen.
Item Code: 3601
£ 3850
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